D. Shankar Singh

D. Shankar Singh was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, exhibitor and a freedom fighter during the British rule in India. Singh, along with B. Vittalacharya co-found the "Mahatma Pictures", a production venture in 1946, that has produced over a hundred Kannada films. The very first film to release under this banner was Krishnaleela in 1947. His first directorial project was Jaganmohini in 1951. The film is recorded in history as one of the first Kannada films to have screened for over 100 days in cinema halls. In 1953, Singh produced and directed Dallali, featuring Subbanna in the lead role and in the same year he introduced his son Rajendra Singh Babu in the film Chanchala Kumari.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Singh produced and directed many successful films and became one of the most commercially viable artists in Kannada cinema. All his films were shot at the Navajyothi Studio in Mysore.

Legacy Shankar Singh is often referred to as one of the legendary filmmakers of the early Kannada cinema era. He is believed to be a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi and actively participated in the freedom campaigns across Karnataka. His passion towards the arts field drove him to collaborate with a hotelier, B. Vittalacharya and produce some of the best known Kannada films starting from the mid-1940s. Although during that era, all Kannada films were being made and shot in Madras (the present Chennai), Singh is believed to have not moved to Madras for any of his projects. All his films were being shot at Navajyothi Studios in Mysore. Mahatma pictures is also noted for breaking conventions and being experimental towards film making. It was also a pioneer in introducing graphical effects in Kannada cinema by adapting many trick shots in many mythological and folklore films.

Recognizing Singh's determination of making Kannada films in Karnataka, the Government began to subsidize Kannada films. In 1962, Singh insisted the then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa to extend the patronage for films made in Karnataka. Considering his point, the Government levied a surcharge of a rupee per ticket to fund the development of Kannada industry. Singh is credited to be first to explore the shooting locales in and around Karnataka.

Apart from the leading actor of Kannada cinema, Dr. Rajkumar, Mahatma Pictures has the distinction of introducing many successful artists to the film industry such as P. Kalinga Rao, Rajan–Nagendra, T. N. Balakrishna, Hunsur Krishnamurthy and Arjun Sarja among others.

Personal life and family Shankar Singh was married to the actress Prathima Devi, who played lead roles in many of his directorial and production projects. Their son Rajendra Singh Babu and daughter Vijayalakshmi Singh are both Kannada film directors and producers. Actor Auditya is his grandson and actress Rishika Singh is his granddaughter.

Filmography Year Film Credited as Notes Director Story Producer 1947 Krishnaleela Debut feature 1948 Bhakta Ramadas 1949 Nagakannika 1951 Jaganmohini Released in Kannada and Tamil 1952 Sri Srinivasa Kalyana 1953 Dallali 1953 Chanchala Kumari 1953 Sowbhagya Lakshmi 1953 Sri Krishna 1954 Muttidella Chinna 1954 Maadiddunno Maharaaya 1955 Gandharva Kanya 1955 Aashadaboothi 1955 Shivasharane Nambiyakka 1956 Daiva Sankalpa 1957 Prabhulinga Leele 1958 Mangala Suthra 1960 Shivalinga Sakshi 1961 Raja Satyavrata 1961 Bhakta Chetha 1962 Sri Dharmasthala Mahathme 1970 Bhale Khiladi 1971 Onde Kula Onde Daiva 1973 Jwala Mohini 1973 Bangarada Kalla 1975 Nagakanye